United Airlines Stock Dropped !!! Ya Think !!!

[78Brougham]

I don't understand how the flight can be overbooked in the first place. The airline gambles that some won't show up? I'm raising the Bull **** flag. They gambled, they lost, the paying customer comes first. The freebies have to wait. Tough titties. I've been there. My sis in law worked for American. We flew for free... we've gotten bumped, it's the price you pay for free tickets. We didn't like it but it happens.

 

[commando1]

Passive resistance. I would have done the same thing.
"You want me off? Eff you. You'll have to drag me off m*****f*****.

 

[rapidtrans]

I would think the computer program that randomly selects those to "bump" looks for lone travelers. Not families or couples.

 

[amazinblue82]

Given the UNUSUAL situation that I am already ON THE PLANE, and NOT flying with family members, AND I am an experienced flyer, I woulda just got off when the FA told me I got randomly picked to "deplane".

I'd still be mad as hell, for about 30 seconds, ask a few "Why me", "C'Mon" questions maybe -- but NOT so mad/disruptive that the "gendarmes" get called.

IF the situation has escalated to that level, i KNOW am getting off that plane one way or another. Quietly or as a YouTube sensation.

my simple rationalization is its like missing a flight (for mechanical or weather reasons -- that happens a LOT more often then load/crew management issues) except I got paid for my inconvenience for that random, unpredictable event.

THEY then figure out how/when they are gonna get me to my destination, I collect my $800 "United Money", and/or hotel voucher and free airport meal coupon if I am stuck overnight, etc.

Then its over.

 

[rapidtrans]

I've taken the $800 and sat in the Delta Sky lounge till they found me a flight.
And i bug them for a bump up to comfort class at least.

 

[commando1]

For some people, getting to their destination is more important than 800 bucks.
So for that, they get forcibly dragged off a plane.

For me, flying is worse than having my nutz squeezed in a vise while 220v is delivered to my nipples with battery cables.

 

[1978 NYB]

I haven't flown anywhere since I retired from the Army in 1996.

I would rather drive....

I will however, fly one more time....maybe.

I might take a ship across the Atlantic...if it is still possible.

I will visit Germany and Western Europe one more time before I get too old.

 

[amazinblue82]

For some people, getting to their destination is more important than 800 bucks.
So for that, they get forcibly dragged off a plane.

For me, flying is worse than having my nutz squeezed in a vise while 220v is delivered to my nipples with battery cables.

the imagery was funny .. sorry. your point is serious though. I get it.

I do NOT wanna miss my plane for any reason. Its disruptive. But I have learned to adjust my planning to account for the unpredictable part of flying and flown enough that its doesn't bug that much anymore.

my point was, in this case (and United wass WRONG here), is i just got dealt a crappy hand with this "bump", so I make the best of it. Got lemons, make lemonade, and every similar metaphor/cliche that fits.

I fly cause "time is still money" for me while im still working for a living. I gotta be somewhere, then somewhere else 500 miles away in four hours, then time matters or i dont get paid.

My beef with flying is spread across other threads .. machines that virtually disrobe you, shoes/coats/belts on/off, the "junk-grabbing", baggies with your private stuff laying on tables, "i coulda drove there faster" (almost the way it is now between Detroit and Chicago -- 4-hour drive by car, vs 3.0 hours to fly given its only 45 mins in the air, and now 2+ hours in LINES, PLUS the drive TO the airport and getting up EARLY to do THAT) .. aaarrghh. And WHY!

I know why .. i am still pissed that we need to do that stuff. Again, thats in another thread.

 

[70bigblockdodge]

I have no first hand knowledge but have heard United is amazingly cheap in compensating to get people to give up seats.

 

[commando1]

The United Airlines memes are coming out fast and furious, now.

 

[Ironwolf]

For some people, getting to their destination is more important than 800 bucks.
So for that, they get forcibly dragged off a plane.

For me, flying is worse than having my nutz squeezed in a vise while 220v is delivered to my nipples with battery cables.

Ahhhhh So that was the reason that you left Boston ??

 

[rapidtrans]

Ten round trips so far this year. All with Delta. No problems flying comfort class or better. Hotels and car rental companies are another story.

 

[amazinblue82]

 

[fc7_plumcrazy]

Given the UNUSUAL situation that I am already ON THE PLANE, and NOT flying with family members, AND I am an experienced flyer, I woulda just got off when the FA told me I got randomly picked to "deplane".

I'd still be mad as hell, for about 30 seconds, ask a few "Why me", "C'Mon" questions maybe -- but NOT so mad/disruptive that the "gendarmes" get called.

IF the situation has escalated to that level, i KNOW am getting off that plane one way or another. Quietly or as a YouTube sensation.

my simple rationalization is its like missing a flight (for mechanical or weather reasons -- that happens a LOT more often then load/crew management issues) except I got paid for my inconvenience for that random, unpredictable event.

THEY then figure out how/when they are gonna get me to my destination, I collect my $800 "United Money", and/or hotel voucher and free airport meal coupon if I am stuck overnight, etc.

Then its over.

ok, you are in Michigan, it is friday afternoon before Mopar Spring Fling in LA.
You want to fly from Michigan to LA to enjoy the saturday Show&swap Meet.
Then they come and want you out and to fly on saturday to LA.

No way they would get me out of that plane without giving everything

 

[MrMoparCHP]

The problem as I read it was the flight wasn't overbooked, if a flight is overbooked those who check in first get on.
The issue I have with this was that they needed the seats for their own employees. I doubt the gate knew these employees were even waiting for the flight had they the seats would have been available. These employees were probably waiting in a lounge till the last minute as they generally do but this time there were no seats. Maybe it was important that these employees made this flight but I doubt it was, once a stink was made one of the employees could have said they'd can make the next flight.

Maybe they need to make it known that the last people to checkin will be the first to be pulled if needed.


Alan

 

[amazinblue82]

ok, you are in Michigan, it is friday afternoon before Mopar Spring Fling in LA.
You want to fly from Michigan to LA to enjoy the saturday Show&swap Meet.
Then they come and want you out and to fly on saturday to LA.

No way they would get me out of that plane without giving everything

If they want me off their plane, and i cannot "reason" with them, yeah they gotta pay me "everything" too to get me outta that plane AFTER I have boarded.

simple fact is its their plane and we are NEVER guaranteed a seat on their plane. they want you off .. ya gotta get off.

BUT "get PAID" -- handsomely for it. Squeeze their "nips and nads" with vice grips (figuratively) and get my next Spring Fling flight for free. This one I'll be late for, unless its ONLY that Friday night.

 

[commando1]

I'm still not giving up MY flight.

 

[rapidtrans]

The United employees that bumped these four were a flight crew needed in Louisville for a flight outbound from there. Due to all the weather related flight cancellations and delays last weekend things got tight. If they were employees on vacation flying free it'd be another story.

 

[tbm3fan]

I don't understand how the flight can be overbooked in the first place. The airline gambles that some won't show up? I'm raising the Bull **** flag. They gambled, they lost, the paying customer comes first. The freebies have to wait. Tough titties. I've been there. My sis in law worked for American. We flew for free... we've gotten bumped, it's the price you pay for free tickets. We didn't like it but it happens.

Overbooking is accepted standard practice. If the plane has 150 seats do you think all 150, who have tickets, show up for those seats? No, they don't. There will be no shows as there is always no shows. I get no shows in my office practically everyday.

Now decades ago when this happened airlines handled it differently. They would announce that they were overbooked and offer say $400 for volunteers to give up their seat. If no takers they upped the offer over and over again until they got the required number. There will always be those who will give up their seat for a price.

However, airlines have gotten stingy and have stopped that practice. As a result the Feds stepped in and set out what airlines need to do for the passenger when they bump a passenger as airlines won't auction the seats anymore. Auction was great as everyone left happy. Clearly this passenger didn't know the Federal law. So here is how I would have responded if it were me.

Now airlines can prohibit you from boarding if over booked but once on the plane they can't ask you to just get up and leave. So whoever asks me to get up and leave. I ask the question am I being asked to leave my seat and get off the plane? If told no then I sit back down. If told yes then I immediately ask for the written Federal rules that are legally required to be given to the passenger before they leave. The rules state that I must be delivered to my destination within one hour of my original time. If over 2 hours late then I am entitled to a double refund of my original ticket up to something like $635. If fours hours or more late then I am entitled to 400% of my original one way fare up to $1300.

I don't get up until I get those written rules as required. With that I then negotiate with the gate supervisor while I still have leverage. Then I leave the plane when satisfied. If dragged off, and that is fine as they have now violated Federal law, then I tell them to talk to my lawyer which will cost them waaayyyy more than the original ticket. This guy's settlement, United would be stupid to go to court, will be huge. Clearly there is supposed to be a set procedure/policy for each airline to enact this properly yet apparently zero training for United Gate employees. I hear the CEO says they need to look at their policy about moving flight employees around but nothing about educating their gate employees.

Airlines need to go back to the auction method cause if they had this in place this episode would have never happened. By $1500 someone would have volunteered.

 

[MrMoparCHP]

The United employees that bumped these four were a flight crew needed in Louisville for a flight outbound from there. Due to all the weather related flight cancellations and delays last weekend things got tight. If they were employees on vacation flying free it'd be another story.

Whereas that may be true, they probably knew well enough in advance to have prevented this.


Alan